The vote was preceded by a bitter dispute over so-called gerrymandering. Constituency boundaries are specifically drawn in such a way that they give the ruling party a structural advantage – for example by the groups of voters
political competition can be concentrated in a few districts or divided among many. Typically this only happens every ten years after a census. Now the Democrats are likely to win ten instead of six of Virginia’s eleven seats in the House of Representatives. In the Chamber of Congress every two years
all seats reassigned.
Democrats in Virginia justified the special vote as a necessary response to similar moves by Republicans in Texas. Such conflicts are also being played out in other states: In Florida, Republican Governor Ron DeSantis also wants to discuss new electoral districts in the coming week. In Virginia, the final word has not yet been spoken. The state’s highest court approved the referendum, but could later declare it invalid because of a lawsuit from Republicans.
Authorities: Shooter at tourist attraction was inspired by Columbine massacre
According to Mexican authorities, the perpetrator of the fatal gun attack at one of Mexico’s most famous attractions may have been inspired by the school massacre at Columbine High School in the United States. In the backpack allegedly belonging to the shooter, among other things, written and graphic material was found that was “connected to violent events” that “took place in the United States in April 1999,” said the Attorney General of the State of Mexico, José Luis Cervantes, at a press conference on Tuesday.
On April 20, 1999, two teenagers dressed in black and wearing masks shot and killed twelve classmates and a teacher at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. They then took their own lives. Several other assassins in the United States later cited the famous massacre as inspiration for their attacks.
The gun attack on Monday, 27 years to the day after the Columbine massacre, occurred at lunchtime in the Teotihuacán site in central Mexico, which is very popular with tourists. The attacker shot a Canadian tourist and ultimately took his own life. A total of 13 people were also injured: According to authorities, six people were injured by gunfire and were treated in a local hospital. Seven other people were injured while fleeing the shots. A US tourist who survived the attack told the Mexican newspaper Milenio that the gunman said Monday was the anniversary of the Columbine massacre. He also said that the pyramid was a place for ritual sacrifices in pre-colonial times, she said.
